Prochlorperazine Edisylate Injection
Last Updated: August 1, 2016
Status: Current
Products Affected - Description
All presentations are currently available
Reason for the Shortage
Heritage Pharmaceuticals states the reason for the shortage was manufacturing delay.
Available Products
Prochlorperazine Edisylate injection, Heritage
5 mg/mL, 2 mL vial, 10 count (NDC 23155-0294-42)
Estimated Resupply Dates
Heritage has prochlorperazine injection available.1
Implications for Patient Care
Prochlorperazine is a phenothiazine antiemetic used to control nausea and vomiting produced by a variety of causes.2,3,4
- During this shortage use alternative anti-emetics. Oral and rectal prochlorperazine products are effective, however these routes may not be practical for all patients.3,4
Safety
Injectable promethazine is a possible alternative to prochlorperazine for the prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting (the table provides a summary of additional potential alternatives).4,5 However, severe tissue injury in the event of perivascular extravasation, intraneuronal or perineuronal infiltration, or inadvertent intra-arterial administration is possible with promethazine.2,3,6 The Institute for Safe Medication Practices provides guidance on preventing tissue injury with intravenous promethazine.6
- The labeled route of administration for promethazine injection is deep intramuscular injection. Subcutaneous administration is contraindicated.2,3
- Limit the concentration used in the organization to 25 mg/mL and further dilute promethazine with 10 to 20 mL normal saline when administering intravenously. This allows for slower administration, reduces vesicant effects, and allows for extravasation to be detected more quickly.6
- Limit the starting dose of IV promethazine to 6.25 mg to 12.5 mg IV.6 Promethazine 6.25 mg IV was as effective as 12.5 mg IV for controlling postoperative nausea and vomiting in a clinical study.7
- Administer intravenous promethazine slowly over 10 to 15 minutes through a large bore vein (ie, central venous access is preferred; avoid the hand or wrist) via a running intravenous line at the furthest port from patient's vein.6
- Instruct patients to immediately report signs of pain or burning.2,3,6
- Create alerts to remind healthcare workers of the risks associated with intravenous promethazine use.6
Alternative Agents & Management
- No single agent can be substituted for prochlorperazine injection. The choice of alternative agents must be patient-specific and based on the clinical situation as well as the potential for adverse effects.4,5
- Consensus guidelines offer evidence-based recommendations for the pharmacologic management of postoperative nausea and vomiting.5 Tables 1 and 2 incorporate these recommendations for select injectable antiemetics.
Table 1. Selected Alternative Injectable Agents for the Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting 2,3,4,5,7
|
Drug |
Dose |
|
Dexamethasone* |
4 to 5 mg intravenous at induction |
|
Dimenhydrinate |
1 mg/kg intravenous (maximum 100 mg every 4 hours) |
|
Dolasetron |
12.5 mg intravenous 15 minutes prior to end of surgery |
|
Droperidol (currently not marketed) |
0.625 to 1.25 mg intravenous at end of surgery |
|
Granisetron |
0.35 to 3 mg intravenous at end of surgery |
|
Haloperidol* |
0.5 to 2 mg intramuscular or intravenous |
|
Methylprednisolone* |
40 mg intravenous (single dose) |
|
Ondansetron* |
4 mg intravenous at end of surgery |
|
Palonsetron |
0.075 mg intravenous immediately prior to or at induction |
|
Promethazine* |
6.25 to 12.5 mg intravenous at induction |
Table 2. Selected Alternative Injectable Agents for the Treatment of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting 2,3,4,5,7
|
Drug |
Dose |
|
Dexamethasone* |
2 to 4 mg intravenous |
|
Dimenhydrinate |
1 mg/kg intravenous (maximum 100 mg every 4 hours) |
|
Dolasetron |
12.5 mg intravenous postoperatively |
|
Droperidol (currently not marketed) |
0.625 to 1.25 mg intravenous as needed |
|
Granisetron |
0.1 mg intravenous postoperatively |
|
Ondansetron* |
1 to 4 mg intravenous postoperatively |
|
Promethazine* |
6.25 to 12.5 mg intravenous or 12.5 to 25 mg intramuscular every 4 to 6 hours as needed |
*Some presentations of these products are currently in short supply. See www.ashp.org/shortages for further details.
Related Shortages
- Chlorpromazine Injection — Current
- Thiothixene Capsules — Resolved
References
- Heritage Pharma, Customer Service (personal communication). October 13, November 3, December 14, 2015; February 11, May 2, and August 1, 2016.
- Lexi-Drugs Online. Hudson, OH: Lexi-Comp, Inc.; 2015.
- McEvoy GK, Snow EK, Kester L, Litvak K, Miller J, Welsh OH, eds. AHFS DI (Lexi-Comp Online). Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists; 2015.
- DiPiro CV, Ignoffo, RJ. Nausea and Vomiting. In: Dipiro JT, Talbert RL, Yee GC, Matzke GR, Wells BG, Posey LM, eds. Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach. 9th ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill Medical Publishing; 2014:517-30.
- Gan TJ, Diemunsch P, Habib AS, Kovac, A, et al. Society for Ambulatory Anesthesiology. Consensus Guidelines for the Management of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting. Anesth Analg. 2014 Jan;118(1):85-113.
- Institute for Safe Medication Practices. Action Needed to Prevent Serious Tissue Injury with IV Promethazine. Accessed March 19, 2015.
- Deitrick CL, Mick DJ, Lauffer V, Prostka E, et al. A comparison of two differing doses of promethazine for the treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting. J Perianesth Nurs. 2015 Feb;30(1):5-13.
Updated
Updated August 1, 2016 by Michelle Wheeler, PharmD, Drug Information Specialist. Created October 13, 2015 by Jane Chandramouli, PharmD, Drug Information Specialist. Copyright 2016, Drug Information Service, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.
